Truck Bomb Near Benghazi Kills 13

A man looks at a damaged car near a military base in Barsis, some 50 km (30 miles) outside Benghazi, after a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at an army checkpoint, Dec. 22, 2013.

Car bombings and assassinations of army and police officers have increased in Benghazi in recent months.

The city is a stronghold of militias with roots in the rebel brigades that toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Most countries have closed their consulates in Benghazi because of violence there. The U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed in Benghazi in September 2012 during an Islamist assault on the consulate.

A man looks at the scene near a military base 50 km outside Benghazi, after a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at an army checkpoint, Barsis, Libya, Dec. 22, 2013.

Minister of Culture and Civil Society Habib Mohammed Al-Amin speaks during a news conference about a suicide attack on the checkpoint of Barsis, in Benghazi, Libya, Dec. 22, 2013.

The scene at a military base 50 km outside Benghazi, after a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at an army checkpoint, Barsis, Libya, Dec. 22, 2013.

Men look at the scene near a military base 50 km outside Benghazi, after a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at an army checkpoint, Barsis, Libya, Dec. 22, 2013.

A suicide attacker blew himself up in front of the military base in Barsis, Libya, Dec. 22, 2013.

Men look at the scene near a military base 50 km outside Benghazi, after a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at an army checkpoint, Barsis, Libya, Dec. 22, 2013.

A man looks at a damaged car near a military base 50 km outside Benghazi, after a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at an army checkpoint, Barsis, Libya, Dec. 22, 2013.